| ABOUT A NEW LEASH ON LIFE |
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ABOUT A NEW LEASH ON LIFE
DOGS BEHIND BARS has been in progress since 1981. The program was started by Sister Pauline Quinn in 1981 in Washington State with dogs trained by inmates for the disabled. Since 1981 it has spread across the country from Washington State to Florida. In 1994 North Carolina started the "New Leash on Life" Pilot Program. The New Leash on Life program is now in Marion, Black Mountain, Vanceboro, Tillery, Elizabethtown, Mt. Pleasant, Guilford and NOW IN DAVIDSON COUNTY. The Humane Society of Davidson County in Partnership with the North Piedmont Correctional Center for Woman in Lexington, NC and Rolling Meadows Academy of Dog Training put our first 2 dogs behind bars in the North Piedmont Correctional Center for Woman in A NEW LEASH ON LIFE PROGRAM on March 1, 2006 at 10:00AM. Unlike many of the inmates at the Lexington unit, our dogs will only stay in the prison unit behind bars for 8 weeks. During their eight weeks stay, they will live with the carefully selected inmates who will train and prepare these dogs for adoption into forever loving homes. These are unwanted, abandoned or surrendered dogs who would otherwise remain throughout their lives in foster homes or be euthanized. A NEW LEASH ON LIFE is a NC state program that allows minimum and medium custody prisoners in North Carolina prisons to partner with local animal welfare agencies or animal shelters to train dogs in preparation for their adoptions. It gives inmates an opportunity to serve our community by providing basic training for adoptable rescue dogs. Dogs selected for the program are carefully screened and selected for the New Leash on Life Program by the Humane Society of Davidson County and Rolling Meadows Academy of Dog Training, LLC. The Humane Society works with the dogs that come into the adoption program from their first day, throughout their medical care, spay or neuter, training, selection of foster parents, screening and selecting adoption applicants and finally taking the animals to their new forever homes. Training for the New Leash on Life program is conducted by Allen and Barbara Simpson of Rolling Meadows Academy of Dog Training, LLC., certified dog trainer and Behavior modification specialist. Private Lessons are presented in classroom type sessions on site at the Lexington unit by Allen and Barbara to the Inmate/Trainers 2-3 times weekly. After formal instruction, The inmate/trainers are accompanied with their dog's to the outside fenced yard. The inmates proof the dogs obedience training at Finch Park Ball Field across from the Correction Center. Inmates continue training throughout the day each day for 8 weeks. Allen and Barbara volunteer their time for animal related humane work such as New Leash on Life while conducting their own private full time dog training and boarding facility, Rolling Meadows Academy of Dog Training, LLC. 336.859.5530, Error! Hyperlink reference not valid., Error! Hyperlink reference not valid.. Prison Inmate/Trainers are also carefully selected and must meet strict criteria requirement to be a part of this state regulated program. Policy and guidelines for the New Leash on Life Program are set by the State of North Carolina Department of Correction. On a local level, inmate/trainers are selected by the local Prison Program Director and supervisory personnel and must be accepted as an Inmate/Trainer in accordance with guidelines set for the program by the State of NC. The Program is monitored and coordinated at a state level by a Division Program Coordinator. The Lexington unit is under the responsibility of: 1) the North Piedmont Correctional Center for Woman Superintendent 2) the Facility Primary Program Coordinator 3) the Facility Secondary Program Coordinator A New Leash on Life Program allows the inmate to give something back to the community, build self-esteem and the dog gets a great opportunity to be adopted as a companion animal in a forever home. A doctoral research study done on over 300 youths that participated in “Project Pooch” a sister program to “A New Leash on Life” showed a ZERO RECIDIVISM RATE and 150 dogs placed in loving homes. Dr. Sandra Merriam-Anudrini Doctoral Research. http.//www.deltasociety.org/ppart0106.htm. Dogs are assigned a primary and a secondary trainer. The inmate/trainers job starts at 6:00am each day and ends around 10:30pm when they put their dogs to bed. They are responsible for complete care of the dog for eight weeks until graduation day. GRADUATION DAY. This is truly an emotional high for everyone and you are invited. (Please call a program director for the next Graduation Date.) On graduation day, dogs are presented to families who are prescreened and selected by Becky Everhart of the Humane Society of Davidson County. Families who are pre-approved for adoption will receive their new family member, their dog on graduation day. The Inmate/Trainer will formally hand over the dog to its new owner during the ceremony. The inmate/trainer will also receive his new dog and the rotation begins again.
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